35 comments:

Texas has been hemorrhaging potential tax money to Louisiana & Oklahoma's border casinos. With Texas facing an $18 billion deficit for the next budget cycle, this topic should get extensive discussion in the Legislature next year, even as Perry and White both oppose expanded gambling.

Maine has a casino gambling referendum on the ballot this fall as well, so it would be a good question to ask there. The Maine referendum authorizes a casino in Oxford County, in the western part of the state.

You might also ask about charter schools. Maine is one of the few states in the country not to allow charter schools, and it's been a major topic in both the gubernatorial race and the last legislative session.

Poll marijuana legalization in both states. In texas poll the secession question (if you haven't polled it already), cause after all Rick Perry wants Texas to seceed. Also poll favorable/unfavorable of Ann Richards and ask whether they would rather have Ann Richards of George W Bush as governor. Can you also include crosstabs for results by zipcode or by region (ex Houston, Dallas, northeast etc.) because Texas is so large. Have fun with these Jensen and don't forget to think out of the box.

Throw in LG numbers and potential 2012 Senate numbers for Texas. PLEASE do the LG. Comptroller if you have the room but that is not as important. Also ask something to the effect if you think the President is a Christian or not. It would be interesting to see how well educated Texans are on that. As for Maine absolutely do 2012 Senate numbers, and PLEASE do a Republican primary as well as the GE. For WV please do Governor numbers for 2011. I think they have a special gubernatorial election in 2011 if Manchin wins anyway. Throw in some questions about Byrd regarding his legacy, I am sure that would be nice. Make sure and poll House races in both Maine and WV as well. Thanks!!!!

In Maine, I would poll the 2012 Republican Presidential primary, and perhaps Obama versus the various Republican Presidential hopefuls.

In West Virginia, I'd poll the 2012 GOP Presidential primary, and the race to replace Manchin as Governor.

A more general question I'd like to see if how people feel about President Obama making back-to-school speeches to schoolchildren. Do they think it's a good idea? Would they make it an annual event? Do they suspect that Obama will somehow politicize a speech to schoolchildren?

West Virginia: Governor 2012 with Moore Capito as the Republican. Byrd popularity. How popular was Byrd in 2010? Nobody polled this state after early 2009. House races, if you want. Something about the power of coal & mountaintop removal & global warming in West Virginia.

Maine: Olympia Snowe Republican Primary 2012 AND Olympia Snowe general election 2012. Chellie Pingree (ME-01) is a logical Democratic candidate. Ask if Olympia Snowe is liberal, moderate, or conservative of both the Republican primary AND the general electorate. Do the liberal/moderate/conservative for Susan Collins as well. Also ask if Snowe and Collins should change parties to Independents or Democrats. If you are doing a comprehensive 2012 poll, look at support for various bills Snowe and Collins supported.

Another user pointed out that Hurricane Earl is hitting this weekend and it is also worth pointing out that this is holiday Weekend. Will you wait until Tuesday to poll or go for it over this weekend? It does not seem wise to poll over a holiday. That among other factors likely affected your NY-23 poll. Thanks.

"Why not try a three-way generic ballot for once? Democrat/Republican/Independent?"

The strength or even existence of third-party candidacies is so varied depending on the district and each state's rules for ballot access that a lot of people would say they'd vote independent when they wouldn't actually have that option. But except in very few seats that are uncontested, they can always choose between the two major parties.

For Texas, California, and Maine, "What religion do you believe President Obama is? Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Scientologist?" Find out what the regional variations are, as others have suggested. With the question asking what people think his religion is, not asking if they think he's Muslim.

Also for all three, just for the regional differences, approval of marijuana legalization (illegal/medical/legal).

For Maine, Olympia Snowe Republican 2012 primary. If she sees her prospects in the 2012 primary in the toilet, it would be another dramatic shift in this year's races to see if she runs right or switches parties. Also approval both statewide and among Republicans of the Maine Republican Party platform this year. Also, less directly politically, whether Maine residents have bought more, the same, or less alcohol, cigarettes, and consumer goods across the border in New Hampshire over the last two years.

For Texas, approval of the Arizona immigration law, approval of George W. Bush, and hypothetical three-way race with Kinky Friedman jumping in the mix again (this last would be a Very Nonserious Poll).

I'd also like to see a question like "Have your political views become more Conservative, more Liberal, or roughly unchanged since 2006 or 2008". It might help track long-term political changes better than election results between different candidates.

Include all third parties in all of these. The Libertarian Party is doing a lot of work in Texas this year. I don't know whether the Greens ended up making the ballot there or not. The Greens are definitely on the ballot in WV, with Jesse Johnson running for them, and I think the Constitution Party might be on the ballot there, too.